SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


A.  I.  C.  P.  Notes. 


Vol.  1.  DECEMBER,  1895.  No.  1. 

Published  hi-monthly  toy  tlie  New  York  Association  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  at  105  Cast  33d  Street,  and  entered  at  the 
New  York  Post  Office  as  second  class  matter. 

Yearly  subscription  Fifty  Cents.  Single  numbers  Ten  Cents.  If 
ordered  in  large  numbers  for  distribution  $5.00  per  hundred  copies. 

All  subscriptions  and  communications  should  be  sent  to  WM.  II. 
TOLMAN,  Ph.D.,  General  Agent,  105  East  33d  Street,  New  York  City. 


VACANT  CITY  LOT  FARMS. 


In  the  summer  of  1894,  when  more 
persons  than  usual  were  out  of  employment  on  account  of  the 
hard  times,  Mayor  Pingree  of  Detroit,  conceived  the  idea  that 
vacant  land  in  and  near  the  city  could  be  cultivated  by  the  poor 
unemployed,  whereby  subsistence  could  be  obtained  for  the 
winter.  A  Committee  was  appointed,  several  thousand  acres  of 
land  were  offered,  but  for  lack  of  funds  only  430  acres  (8760  city 
lots)  were  accepted.  This  land  was  plowed,  harrowed  and  staked  into 
lots  of  quarter  to  half  acre  each.  Seed  and  tools  were  furnished 
by  the  Committee.  945  families  received  plots  of  land,  which 
were  cultivated  under  the  direction  of  a  volunteer  Superintendent. 
The  above  are  the  outlines  of  the  "  Potato  Patch  Farms,"  or  the 
"  Detroit  Experiment,"  as  it  has  been  termed.* 

This  success  of  this  trial,  in  which,  at  an 
expense  of  83.60  each  to  the  Mayor's  Committee,  nearly  one 
thousand  families  were  enabled  to  support  themselves  through  the 
winter  by  their  potato  crops  alone,  was  brought  to  the  attention 
of  Mr.  Bolton  Hall,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  in  1895. 
Realizing  that  the  scheme  not  only  sustained  the  workers,  but 
trained  them  and  relieved  the  charities  from  the  strain  of  constant 
applications,  he  secured  the  co-operation  of  Mr.  N.  S.  Rosenau  of 


Detroit 
Idea. 


New  York 
Conference 
of 

Charities. 


*  Full  reports  may  be  had  by  writing  to  Mayor  Pingree. 


2 


the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  Mr.  C.  D.  Kellogg  of  the  Charity 
Organization  Society,  and  Mr.  R.  Fulton  Cutting.  Through  their 
influence,  the  subject  was  brought  before  the  monthly  Conference 
of  Charities,  and  subsequently  before  the  Federation  of  East  Side 
Workers. 

After  the  matter  had  been  thoroughly 
discussed  it  was  decided  that  a  new  organization  was  not  needed,  so 
it  was  determined  to  place  the  management  in  the  hands  of  some 
large  philanthropic  society  for  the  sake  of  utilizing  its  experience 
and  machinery.  The  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of 
the  Poor  was  accordingly  asked  to  assume  the  management,  under 
the  condition  that  its  President  should  be  Chairman  of  the  Vacant 
Lot  Committee. 

lmmittee  ^  Committee  was  appointed,  consisting 

of  Mr.  R.  Fulton  Cutting;  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff ;  Mr.  Thomas  M. 
Mulry,  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society  ;  Mr.  Nathaniel  S.  Rosenau, 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  ;  Mr.  Arthur  W.  Milbury,  of  the 
Industrial  Christian  Alliance  ;  Mr.  Bolton  Hall ;  Mr.  Francis  V 
Green,  of  the  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor  ;  Mr.  George  Calder,  of  St.  Andrew's  Society,  and  Mr.  William 
H.  Tolman. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Committee 
the  following  officers  were  elected  :  President,  Mr.  R.  Fulton  Cutting  ; 
Treasurer,  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff  ;  Secretary,  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Tolman  ; 
Executive  Committee,  Mr.  Bolton  Hall,  Chairman,  Mr.  A.  W.  Mil- 
bury  and  Mr.  W.  H.  Tolman.  The  original  idea  was  that  vacant 
lots  in  the  city  proper  should  be  cultivated,  but  this  plan  was 
abandoned  on  account  of  the  expense  of  watching,  particularly 
as  the  plots  of  land  were  so  isolated.  The  Committee,  therefore, 
availed  themselves  of  land  in  Long  Island  City,  comprised  in  three 
large  tracts,  of  138  acres  (1656  city  lots,  altogether),  and  donated 
by  Mr.  Wm.  Steinway,  Mrs.  John  Lowry,  Mr.  H.  B.  Hollins  and 
the  Long  Island  Improvement  Co.  The  Superintendent  reported 
this  land  as  well  adapted  for  cultivation. 

An    appeal    for    money    to    carry  on 
<Jlau  an(j     the   work   was   then    issued,    in    which    it    was    clearly  stated 
Scope.      that  the   cultivation  of   the  city  lots   by  the   unemployed  was 


3 


not  a  mere  charity,  but  a  relief  scheme  which  aimed  to 
establish  habits  of  self-reliance,  to  teach  the  poor  to  become 
prosperous,  to  make  farming  more  profitable  and  to  increase  the 
sum  of  wealth,  and  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Committee 
that  hundreds  of  families  who  would  otherwise  be  a  burden  to 
the  taxpayers  and  to  the  charitable  could  be  made  self-supporting 
at  a  cost  of  less  than  $10  each,  help  being  given,  where  possible, 
as  a  loan.  The  plan,  therefore,  embraced  a  means  of  providing 
immediate  work  on  a  business  basis  for  all  unemployed,  however 
unskilled,  who  might  be  willing  and  capable. 

Funds  came  in  slowly,  probably  because 
the  charitable  failed  to  recognize  at  once  that  this  was  a  substitute 
for  many  charities  rather  than  a  supplement  to  one.  This  lack 
however  resulted  in  part  in  the  healthy  development  of  the 
Co-operative  Farm,  which  bore  its  own  expenses. 

Our  main  work  and  much  of  our  expense 
of  the  year  was  devoted  to  the  effort  to  call  public  attention,  not 
only  in  the  United  States,  but  all  over  the  world,  to  what  could  be 
done  with  Vacant  land,  and  how  it  should  be  done.  Considering 
that  our  city  is  a  receiving  basin  for  poverty  and  failures  from  all 
over  the  country,  the  large  number  of  cities  which  were  induced  to 
undertake  similar  enterprises  form  a  sufficient  justification  of  the  large 
expenses,  even  upon  selfish  grounds.  Capt.  Cornelius  Gardener, 
to  whose  energy  and  capacity,  freely  devoted  to  his  fellow  citizens, 
the  success  of  the  Detroit  "  Potato  Patches  "  in  1894  was  largely  due, 
wrote  to  us  that  until  New  York  began  to  agitate  the  matter,  neither 
public  notice  of  their  success  nor  funds  to  continue  it  could  be  had, 
the  papers  refusing  to  publish  his  articles,  but  that  upon  the 
announcement  that  a  New  York  Committee  was  appointed,  the  same 
papers  offered  liberal  pay,  and  he  was  overwhelmed  with  requests 
for  full  details  from  leading  publications.  Thus  we  repaid  our 
social  debt  to  Detroit. 

Many  others,  as  for  instance  Minneap- 
olis, were  decided,  by  our  determination,  to  push  the  matter,  and 
some,  like  Detroit,  made  a  city  appropriation  in  order  later  to 
relieve  their  poor  fund.  The  large  file  of  newspaper  clippings,  open 
to  those  who  are  interested,  at  the  office  of  the  Association  shows  the 


Object 
Lesson  for 
the  Entire 
Country. 


Other 
Cities 


4 


extraordinary  educational  value  of  our  work  in  riveting  public 
attention  on  the  essentials  of  true  charity. 

The  Association  advanced  a  thousand 
dollars  for  seed,  tools,  fertilizer  and  superintendence,  engaging  the 
services  of  J.  W.  Kelgaard,  a  practical  farmer,  who  had  made  a 
special  study  for  the  Association  in  connection  with  the  causes  of 
agricultural  depression  in  New  York  State.  The  Superintendent  at 
once  purchased  seed  potatoes,  and  prepared  the  land  for  cultivation. 

Application  stations  were  then  opened 
under  the  care  of  various  societies  in  different  parts  of  the  city, 
pplication  *n  ass*gnment-s>  preference  was  given  to  men  with  families,  as  it 
Stations.  was  a  part  of  the  plan  that  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  should  tide 
a  man  over  till  he  could  get  a  permanent  position.  For  the  sake 
of  conclusions  at  the  end  of  the  season,  inquiries  were  made  of 
each  applicant  in  accordance  with  the  following  schedule  : 


RELATIONSHIP  TO 
HEAD 

NUMBER  CAPABLE  OF 

WAD  V 

Number  in  family  who  should 
be  at  work,  but  unemployed 

AGE 

SEX 

W— White 

COLOR 
C— Colored. 

XT  A  'I'TAV  A  T  TrpV 

BIRTH  PLACE 

LUUJN  lKi  rJUKiN 

pitv  dad  vr 

COUNTRY  BRED 

CITY  BRED 

OCCUPATION 

WORK  HOURS  PER  DAY 

STEADINESS  OF  WORK 
LAST  12  MONTHS 

NUMBER  OF  ROOMS 

RENT  PER  MONTH 

LENGTH  OF  RESIDENCE 
IN  CITY  IN  MONTHS 

AID 

Yes  or  no 

SOURCE  OF  AID 

EXPERIENCE  IN  FARM. 
ING  IN  MONTHS 

Can  you  get  or  pay  for  Tools, 
Seed  or  Fertilizer 

I 


CO  ET1 


>  I 


GO 
GO 


°  '■* 

■8  3  »  5- 

w  o  g-a 

n  C 


!»»:•» 

S  *  ~  9- 
err1  «  » 


CO 


6 


After  the  schedule  was  satisfactorily 
filled  out,  the  applicant  was  directed  to  meet  the  Superintendent, 
who  assigned  the  land  on  presentation  of  this  card  : 


h 

9) 

4> 


.si 


<5> 

mo 

v. 

*** 

w 

*» 

s 

♦* 

s 

fa 

<-> 

*** 

.Si 

v> 
\» 

si 

*>» 

v> 

Nut. 

Exp 

Can 

Dai 

App 

Applications  for  land  were  received  very 

slowiy  indeed,  as  the  people  seemed  to  distrust  the  scheme,  from 
Distrust  of  ,  .  ,  . 

Plan  in  some  waY  tne  promised  advantages  were  to  be  taken 

away  from  them  after  a  season's  hard  work  ;  however,  after  the  crops 

began  to  appear  above  ground,  applications  were  received  at  the 


7 


rate  of  40  or  50  a  day.  One  result  of  the  tardy  applications  was  that 
the  Committee  found  it  had  about  40  acres  ready  for  cultivation  but 
unassigned.  As  we  were  then  out  of  funds,  this  land  was  used  as  a 
Co-operative  Farm.  84  families,  representing  261  people,  received 
allotments.  The  average  farm  was  an  acre,  but  in  cases  of  ex- 
treme poverty,  or  where  the  applicant  had  a  practical  knowledge 
of  farming,  the  amount  was  increased.  The  Committee  insisted  that 
half  the  land  at  least  should  be  planted  with  potatoes,  because  the 
risk  of  this  crop  was  small.  The  Superintendent  was  aided  by  two 
assistants,  so  that  the  scheme  was  practically  a  farm  school.  This 
instruction,  the  plowing  of  the  ground,  tools  and  fertilizer  were 
furnished  without  charge  to  the  applicants. 

It  should  be  stated  at  the  outset,  that  the 
entire  work  here  was  experimental,  hence  only  the  close  of  the 
season  could  determine  success  or  failure.  It  should  also  be  stated 
that  the  work  was  freely  criticised  ;  some  of  the  criticisms  were 
extremely  captious,  but  as  those  who  were  so  generous  in  this  direc- 
tion offered  no  solution  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way,  the  Committee 
persevered  in  the  policy  which  it  had  marked  out.  All  experience 
must  be  paid  for,  the  best  sometimes  proving  the  most  costly.  The 
Committee,  therefore,  begins  the  season  of  1896  rich  in  experi- 
ence, whereby  the  expenses  for  the  coming  season  can  be  lessened 
and  the  yield  vastly  increased.  Its  expenses  will  always  be  heavy, 
from  the  fact  that  these  farms  are  situated  across  the  river,  and  that 
the  additional  expenses  of  the  ferry  are  considerable  ;  that  the 
ignorance  of  the  applicants  compels  minute  inspection,  and  that  the 
cultivation  is  on  scientific  principles. 

Although,  with  proper  fertilizers  and 
great  care,  as  much  as  eight  hundred  bushels  of  potatoes  have  been 
raised  on  a  single  acre,  we  think  it  would  be  better  to  give  less  land 
to  potatoes  and  more  to  early  vegetables,  and  that  all  expenses 
should  be  repaid  by  the  cultivators  from  the  sale  of  their  crops  or  by 
their  labor. 

F.  B.  Livezey,  of  Sykesville,  Md.,  who 
believes  in*  Farm  Reform  as  a  panacea,  writes,  "The  truck  farmers 
around  Paris  pay  an  average  of  $126  per  acre  rent  for  land,  and  yet 


Farm 
School. 


Criticism, 


Labor 
TVage?. 


Digitized 

by  the  Internet  Arch 

i 

in  2013 

http://archive.org/details/aicpnotesOOnewy 


9 


their  support  ;  that  the  needy  are  thereby  assisted,  without  creating 

the  demoralization  in  the  habits  of  the  people  that  gratuitous  aid 

always  entails,  and  that  much  relief  and  real  help  may  by  this  plan 

be  afforded  with  small  expense  to  charitable  persons  or  to  taxpayers." 

Thus  as  a  " labor  test"  this  plan  is  unexcelled.    Here  is  an  oppor- 

,  e  Natural 

tunity  for  honest,  moderate  and  not  unpleasant  work,  and  for  j^o,.  ijegt> 
learning  a  useful  rural  occupation  ;  any  who  are  able  but  will  not 
work  should  not  be  helped  at  all.    It  is  easier  to  get  the  people  back 
to  the  land  than  the  land  back  to  the  people. 

To  show  the  practical  effect  of  this  enter- 
prise we  mention  two  illustrations  from  the  report  of  the  "  Doe  Ye 
Nexte  Thinge  Society  "  for  work  among  the  poor  : — "  A  sad  instance 
of  illness  and  starvation  was  brought  to  our  notice  last  winter  in  the 
case  of  a  man  who  had  been  unable  to  find  work  of  any  kind,  and 
who,  therefore,  with  his  sick  wife  and  four  children,  passed  two 
whole  days  literally  without  a  morsel  of  food.  Their  rooms  were  Cases 
scrupulously  clean,  but  so  devoid  of  the  bare  necessaries  of  life  that 
there  were  even  no  sheets  on  the  bed  where  the  sick  woman  lay,  and 
the  starving  children  had  scarcely  rags  to  cover  them."*  Temporary 
aid  was  given  and  the  husband,  worn  almost  to  a  skeleton  from  want 
of  food,  and  unavailing  efforts  to  find  work,  was  started  in  farming 
in  the  spring,  on  one  of  the  vacant  lots  on  Long  Island,  where  he 
worked  faithfully  during  the  summer,  and  has  now  a  position  in  this 
city  at  818.00  a  month." 

Another  family  is  found  in  the  most  dis- 
heartening material  and  moral  destitution.  "  Work  was  found  for 
the  woman,  at  $4.00  a  week,  in  the  house  of  a  lady  who  took  great 
interest  in  her.  She  came  regularly  to  the  Bible  Class,  and  all 
through  the  summer  her  husband  worked  steadily  on  the  vacant 
farms  of  the  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor, 
on  Long  Island,  on  which  he  raised  enough  vegetables  both  to 
provide  food  for  his  family  during  that  time,  and  to  have  a  small 
stock  in  reserve  for  the  coming  winter.  With  more  comfortable 
rooms  and  better  surroundings,  this  family  can  now  look  forward 
with  more  hopefulness  to  the  future."    Such  instances  could  be 

*  Annual  Report  of  the  D.  Y.  N.  T.  Society  for  Work  among  the  Poor. 
1894-1895. 


10 


many  times  multiplied  ;  but  it  is  easy  to  see  that,  while  conflicting 
with  no  charities,  the  Vacant  Lot  Cultivation  will  become  a  valuable 
auxiliary  to  them  by  helping  to  solve  the  problem  of  how  to 
find  work  for  the  shiftless  and  unskilled.  Encouraged  by  the 
number  of  other  cities  which  followed  our  lead  last  year,  we  venture 
to  make  the  following  additional  suggestions  for  extending  the  work, 
both  in  their  hands  and  our  own. 

The  Cultivation  of  Vacant  Lots  must  be 
put  on  a  business  basis.  Volunteer  service  in  superintendence  must 
be  secured  and  the  aid  of  the  city  authorities  availed  of  to  the  fullest 
extent.  As  an  additional  Charity,  it  will  in  the  end  be  a  failure.  As 
an  educator  and  a  natural  social  development  it  can  do,  and  under 
wide  minded  guidance  will  do,  permanent  and  incalculable  good. 
In  future  years  it  will  be  found  that  many  philanthropists  will  refuse 
to  contribute  to  miscellaneous  charities  until  this  plan  is  in  operation 
in  their  district.  It  is  best  to  get  tracts  of  as  many  acres  as  possible 
in  a  piece,  and  if  the  land  is  poor,  to  collect  the  sweepings  of  the 
street  to  be  carted  upon  the  land  in  the  spring  or  carried  upon  the 
land,  from  time  to  time,  as  collected,  to  enrich  the  soil.  The 
cultivation  being  intensive,  the  people  would  carry  the  manure 
upon  the  land  themselves,  if  it  were  given  to  them.  At  any  rate,  the 
collection  of  fertilizer  will  furnish  some  work  during  the  winter 
months.  A  careful  account  should  be  kept  with  each  cultivator,  of 
all  seed,  fertilizer,  and  his  pro  rata  share  of  the  expense  of  superin- 
tendence, and  so  forth.  This,  except  in  cases  of  misfortune,  can 
easily  be,  and  should  be,  repaid  to  the  Committee  out  of  the  produce 
of  the  "  farms,"  or  by  labor  expended  on  the  co-operative  branch,  so 
as  to  eliminate  entirely  "  alms  "  giving. 

BUT  WHAT  WERE  WE  TO  DO  WITH 
THOSE  WHO  NEEDED  IMMEDIATE  SUPPORT,  WHO  COULD  NOT  WAIT 
FOR  CROPS  TO  GROW  ? 

We  plowed  up  and  seeded  about  38 
acres  and  gave  all  workers  ten  cents  an  hour. 

We  think  that  too  high  a  rate,  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  we  have  the  very  poorest,  to  whom  we 
should  have  had  to  give  necessaries,  if  we  had  not  been  able  to  let 
them  have  the  opportunity  of  earning  them  at  once. 


11 


Co-opera- 


In  addition  the  workers  were  told  that 
they  were  to  have  a  half  interest  in  the  product  of  these  acres. 
Although  this  was  not  begun  till  far  too  late  for  the  best  results  ; 
when  the  crops  were  gathered,  we  found  that  the  expense  on  this 
Co-operative  farm  was  $966.75,  and  the  value  of  the  crops,  which 
were  disposed  of  to  the  various  charities,  at  market  rates  was 
$1067.65.  After  deducting  an  allowance  for  rent  of  land,  cost  of  tion. 
superintendence  and  interest  there  was  left  $53  to  be  divided 
among  the  workers.  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Executive  Committee 
that  this  feature  should  be  made  the  main  one ;  as  it  stimulated  the 
men  to  friendly  rivalry,  created  a  public  spirit  against  loafing,  and 
whilst  affording  immediate  wages  to  the  cultivators,  can  be  made 
to  contribute  largely  toward  the  other  expenses  of  the  Committee. 

Where  the  scheme  is  already  familiar  to 
the  workers,  the  plots  small  and  the  soil  not  too  hard,  there  seems  to 
be  no  reason  why  the  able  bodied  workers  themselves  should  not 
spade  the  land  instead  of  having  it  plowed  by  the  Committee. 
When  it  is  known  that  all  direct  aid  is  to  be  paid  for  by  work  or  by 
part  of  the  crop,  most  men  will  prefer  to  do  as  much  of  their 
own  work  as  possible. 

The  Christian  Industrial  Alliance  meal 
tickets  will  support  a  family  of  three  for  a  week  at  a  cost  of  ninety 
cents.  These  might  be  given  in  wages  for  work.  The  outlay  is 
small,  since  men  living  so  cheaply  can  afford  to  work  cheap.  If 
more  apply  than  can  be  employed,  of  course  those  who  are  most 
in  need,  and  will  therefore  work  cheapest,  should  have  the  prefer- 
ence. 

^        •     ,     ^        •  ,  ,  ,  Philanthro- 

Even  if  the  Committee  should  have  to  «y  ail(j  ^ije 

pay  a  rental,  based  not  on  speculative  value,  but  on  what  the  land  is     Per  Cent, 
worth  for  use,  it  would  be  a  profitable  investment  to  the  taxpayers  ; 
and  as  many  cultivators  would  pay  market  rent  for  the  land  in  later 
years,  it  would  also  benefit  the  land-owners  themselves. 

Our  experience  has  already  shown  that 
men  will  generally  work  when  given  the  opportunity  ;  that  hardly 
any  capital  is  necessary  for  employment,  and  that  over-population 
in  this  country  is  as  chimerical  as  the  exhaustion  of  the  coal 
supply.    Its  bearing  upon  the  questions  of  temperance  and  wages 


12 


Reasons  f'oi 
Failure. 


Margin  of 
Profit. 


will  appear  at  a  glance,  since  one,  at  least,  of  the  cultivators  who 
did  best  had  been  an  absolute  drunkard.  Where  the  plan  has  failed 
in  any  city,  it  can  be  traced  directly  to  three  causes  :  1.  "  That 
well-founded  distrust  of  everything  that  looks  like  charity,"  which, 
to  quote  Mrs.  Lowell,  has  been  such  a  safeguard  of  the  poor.  This 
has  kept  workers  from  offering  themselves,  until  a  year's  trial  with  a 
few  has  convinced  them.  2.  Active  speculation  in  suburban  lands, 
which  made  it  impossible  to  get  the  use  of  lots.  3.  Lack  of  ability 
in  the  Managers,  who  failed  to  arrange,  for  instance,  to  get  lands 
further  out  and  shelter  the  workers. 

Some  of  the  cultivators  who  kept  count 
of  the  number  of  days  they  worked,  show  the  surprising  conclusion 
that  they  earned,  not  farm  wages  (75  cents  per  day  with  board  and 
lodging  for  the  worker),  but  skilled  mechanics'  wages,  84.00  per  day, 
for  every  working  day  :  as,  for  instance,  a  stone  cutter  worked  50 
hours  and  made  $120.23.  (See  table,  page  40.)  The  light  work  was 
afterwards  done  by  his  children,  but  as  this  could  not  have  brought 
any  income  otherwise,  he  did  not  count  it.  Several  families, 
encouraged  by  their  experience,  have  already  moved  out  to  the 
country.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  accurate  and  extensive 
figures  on  this  point  were  not  kept. 

The  statement  has  been  made  by  many, 
including  gentlemen  farmers,  that  if  such  results  can  be  demon- 
strated again  they  will  go  into  the  business,  that  "  potato  raising  is 
pretty  profitable."  Again,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  in  addition 
to  potatoes  other  crops  were  raised.  The  fact  that  the  crops  were 
sold  at  retail  rates  and  that  the  product  was  choice,  increased  the 
rates.  Many  a  planter  was  able  to  peddle  his  bunch  of  radishes, 
picked  only  a  few  hours  previously,  carefully  put  up,  and  a  fine 
product,  for  five  or  six  cents,  whereas  the  wholesale  price  at  market 
rate  was  only  two  and  a  half  or  three  cents.  The  same  was  true  of 
potatoes,  which  were  sold  in  many  instances  by  the  quart  or  half- 
peck.  Had  the  planter  sold  his  entire  crop  of  four  or  eight  barrels 
at  one  time,  he  would  only  have  received  wholesale  rates,  and  a 
large  measure  of  the  profit  would  have  gone  into  the  hands  of  the 
commission  merchants.  Too  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  upon  the 
fact  that  those  who  made  the  most  money  were  those  who  cultivated 


13 


the  finest  product  ;  proof  that  it  was  fine  was  afforded  by  the  fact 
that  the  second  prize  at  the  New  York  City  Live  Stock  Show  was 
awarded  to  the  exhibit  of  the  Vacant  Lot  Farms. 

In  the  economic  judgment  of  the  Vacant 
Lot  Farm  managers  it  must  be  carefully  borne  in  mind  that  every- 
thing was  given  the  farmers  :  the  use  of  the  land  and  of  tools,  seed, 
fertilizer  and  instruction.  Economically,  an  injustice  is  done  to 
farmers  who  are  obliged  to  calculate  very  closely  the  above  items  of 
expense,  but  the  Committee  felt  that  the  small  number  of  farmers  on 
the  Vacant  Lot  Farms  would  not  do  any  appreciable  injustice  to  the 
other  classes,  and  that  even  for  this,  the  increased  supply  of  skilled 
farm  labor  would  more  than  compensate.  Were  the  Vacant  Lot 
Farmers  not  at  work  on  the  land,  they  would  have  been  on  the  lists' 
of  the  Association  for  charity,  which  would  have  meant  the  bestowal 
of  money  or  shelter,  food,  fuel  or  clothing.  Suppose  $35  were  given 
each  family  ;  at  the  expiration  of  a  few  weeks,  the  money  would 
have  been  spent  and  the  family  in  question  be  in  as  bad  condition  as 
before,  if  not  worse,  because  the  inclination  for  self  help  might  have 
been  weakened  by  the  granting  of  relief.  On  the  Vacant  Lot  Farms, 
however,  the  farmers  worked  with  a  zest  because  they  knew  that 
they  were  to  have  the  whole  fruit  of  their  labors,  and  they  recog- 
nized that  their  efforts  would  produce  results,  because  of  the  careful 
training. 

Subscriptions  for  the  expenses  of  the 
coming  year  (which  have  already  begun  in  the  fertilizing  of  the 
ground  with  street  sweepings  turned  over  by  Colonel  Waring)  are 
earnestly  invited.  Whatever  is  repaid  by  the  cultivators  will  go  to 
get  land  to  make  permanent  occupation  for  involuntary  idlers.  The 
use  of  land  for  the  season,  especially  on  Manhattan  Island  or  in  the 
district  just  above  the  Harlem  is  also  greatly  needed. 

Surely  this  experience  may  point  the  way 
out  of  a  social  crisis  so  grave  that  even  the  Prebendary  of  St.  Paul, 
Rev.  Dr.  Eyton,  says,  "  What  the  next  chapter  (in  our  history)  will 
bring  forth  no  one  can  tell.  It  may  be  red  as  blood  and  confused 
as  chaos."  ''There  is  trouble  on  all  sides,"  says  the  famous  preacher 
of  Italy,  Agnostio  di  Monterfetro  ;  "  the  horizon  is  black  with  clouds." 
The  Bishop  of  Winchester  adds,  "  The  zones  of  enormous  wealth 


Second 
Prize. 


Relief  by 
Work. 


Social 
Crisis. 


14 


and  degraded  poverty,  unless  carefully  considered,  will  generate  a 
tornado." 

Such  warnings  are  not  wanting  among 
ourselves.  Strikes,  business  paralysis,  political  corruption,  crimes  of 
Warnings.  vi0ience>  SOcial  degeneration  and  increasing  difficulty  of  making  a 
living  are  the  evils  which,  with  a  growing  class  of  men,  wanting  work 
but  unable  to  find  it,  threaten  ourselves  and  our  children.  As  long 
as  United  States  soldiers  will  shoot  rioters,  we  need  not  greatly  fear 
actual  insurrection,  unless,  indeed,  a  foreign  war  should  leave  a 
discontented  trained  soldiery  of  our  own  on  our  hands,  but  in  one 
form  or  another  the  idle  man  is  still  the  dangerous  one,  and  the 
more  intelligent  and  willing  to  exert  himself  he  is,  the  more  terrible 
he  becomes.  If  we  could  but  find  a  place  for  employing  such  men 
during  the  winter  as  efficiently  as  the  Vacant  City  Lots  could  employ 
them  during  the  summer,  we  would  have  gone  far  towards  solving 
at  once  the  labor  question  and  the  problem  of  undeserved  pau- 
perism. 


15 


The  following  is  the  detailed  statement 
of  the  Committee's  own  plot  : 

Expenses  of  the  Co-operative  Farm. 

Seed,  tools  and  labor   $984  75 

Less  fertilizer  on  hand   18  00 

Total  cost   $966  75 

Receipts. 

Produce  sold  to  Seaside  Home   $103  50 

Sold  to  Relief  Department  at  market  prices  : 

606  bushels  potatoes   424  20 

2840  heads  of  cabbage   142  00 

130  crates  of  tomatoes   130  00 

173  barrels  turnips   155  70 

Sold  to  Convent  Good  Shepherd   22  65 

"    "  St.  Joseph's  Asylum   7  50 

"    "  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital   3  00 

"    "  Governor's  Island   4  10 

Seed-beans  on  hand   75  00 

Total  $1,067  65 

Statement  of  the  Assigned  Plots. 

In  arriving  at  the  value  of  the  general 
crops,  it  should  be  stated  that  each  planter  was  required  to  report  to 
the  Superintendent  every  day  the  amount  taken  from  his  farm  and 
the  receipts  for  the  same.  The  value  of  the  crops  was  estimated  at 
the  current  market  rates. 

Amount  of  Crops. 
Potatoes,  6,235  bushels.  Tomatoes,  530  crates. 

Peas,  817  bushels.  Corn,  1000  dozen. 

Beans,  1259  bushels.  Fodder  corn  (not  counted). 

Beans  for  seed,  50  bushels.  Turnips,  1400  bushels. 

Cabbages,  19,119  heads.  Carrots,  93  bushels. 

Lettuce,  onions,  radishes — Lowry  Farm,  $1,130.15. 

Lettuce,  onions,  radishes — Ravenswood  Farm,  $1,702.54. 

The  unitemized  report  of  the  last-named 
vegetables  is  due  to  the  fact  that  we  supposed  at  first  that  such 
small  things  would  amount  to  but  little,  and  that  much  of  them  was 
taken  away  in  very  small  quantities  or  consumed  on  the  ground,  so 
they  were  "lumped." 


1G 

STATEMENT  OF  VACANT  LOT  ACCOUNT. 
Receipts. 

Through  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Treasurer  $2,580  65 

From  R.  Fulton  Cutting   200  00 

"     Wm.  E.  Dodge   100  00 

"     Percy  R.  Pyne,  Jr   100  00 

"     Wm.  E.  Bond   50  00 

"     Francis  V.  Greene   50  00 

"     Sale  of  Products   992  15 

"     Beans  (seed)   75  00 

"     A.  I.  C.  P   673  93 

$4,821  73 

Expenditures. 

Superintendence,  labor,  seed,  tools,  fertilizers,  ferriage, 

cartage,  printing  and  postage  $4,821  73 

Money  Value  of  Crops. 

Planters'  Plots  $5,970  82 

Co-operative  Farm   1,067  65 

Ravenswood  Farm   1,702  54 

Lowry  Farm   1,130  15 

$9,871  16 


In  striking  a  balance,  it  must  be  remembered  that  no  rent  was  paid,  and  in 
addition,  the  instruction,  seed,  tools,  fertilizer  and  preparation  of  the  soil  were 
supplied  free. 


t 


17 


The  following  report  of  the  Superin- 
tendent to  the  Committee  presents  a  general  view  of  the  scheme 
with  details  and  incidents  from  his  view  point  : 


The  work  of  our  farms  began  at  all  hours. 
Some  of  these  people  had  some  work  or  chance  of  work  during  the 
day  and  would  come  over  and  work  on  the  farms  in  the  afternoon  or 
evening  ;  others  would  come  over  early  in  the  morning,  before  their 
regular  work  ;  others  mornings  and  evenings  ;  others  had  irregular 
days,  just  as  they  had  the  time  to  spare  ;  others  were  there  all  the 
time.  Those  who  were  unable  to  secure  any  work,  spent  nearly  the 
whole  of  their  time  on  their  farms.  All  of  them  seemed  to  be 
endued  with  wonderful  earnestness.  Ignorant  as  they  were  of 
farming  and  farm  work,  they  made  up  by  zeal  for  their  lack  of 
knowledge,  and  watched  the  tender  shoots  as  they  came  from  the 
ground  with  the  glee  of  a  child  finding  a  new  toy.  Each  plant 
received  the  care  almost  as  though  it  were  a  child  itself. 

Being  called  to  a  certain  planter's  lot  one 
day,  he  said  some  one  was  stealing  his  cabbage.  I  went  over  his 
cabbage  plot  and  could  find  none  missing,  but  he  was  very  much 
exercised  and  declared  that  his  cabbage  was  being  stolen.  I 
said,  "  Why,  I  do  not  see  any  cabbage  stolen  ;  all  the  plants  are 
here."  "  Yes,  but  see  here,"  said  he,  stooping  and  showing  from 
the  under  part  of  several  plants  where  a  leaf  had  been  broken  off. 
His  care  over  each  plant  was  so  close  that  he  missed  even  a  leaf. 

The  men  who  operated  the  farms  were 
not  of  the  class  that  are  looking  for  charity  ;  most  of  them  were  men 
who  had  once  occupied  good  positions,  but  through  force  of  circum- 
stances had  gotten  among  the  rocks,  did  not  know  how  to  extricate 
themselves,  and  took  hold  of  this  as  a  new  hope. 

When  we  remember  that  these  poor 
people  left  a  cheerless  home  in  the  morning  and  were  willing  to 
work  on  these  lots  all  through  the  day  (looking  to  the  harvest  for 
their  reward)  and  return  to  homes  just  as  cheerless  in  the  night, 
sometimes  with  no  food  and  hungry  children  looking  to  them  for 
bread,  some  of  them  so  poor  that  they  could  not  pay  their  ferriage, 
there  will  be  no  question  raised  as  to  their  need. 


Farm 
Hours. 


Cabbage 
Culture. 


Tenement 
Homes. 


18 


Farm. 


The  Vacant  Lot  Farms  were  a  phase  of 
charity  that  was  new,  inasmuch  as  it  put  these  people  in  a  position 
where  they  did  something  for  their  self-support,  and  so  could 
maintain  their  self-respect.  The  majority  of  them  were  anxious,  at 
the  close  of  the  experiment,  to  go  to  the  country  and  take  hold  of 
agriculture  in  a  true  and  permanent  way. 

An  interesting  feature  of  the  Vacant  Lot 
Farms  was  what  we  called  the  Co-operative  Farm.  This  farm  was 
Cooperative  conducted  entirely  by  the  planters  of  the  other  farms,  the  only 
difference  being  that  on  the  Co-operative  Farm  they  were  to  pay 
back  all  expenses  and  divide  the  remaining  profits,  the  idea  being 
not  only  to  help  these  people  but  to  find  out  if  co-operative  farming 
would  pay.  We  started  late  in  June  with  about  forty  men, 
some  of  them  hale,  strapping  fellows.  Six  secured  work  shortly  after 
and  left.  The  older  ones,  the  infirm  and  those  who  on  account  of 
their  physical  disabilities  were  not  able  to  go  out  and  secure  posi- 
tions, were  left  on  our  hands  to  carry  on  the  Co-operative  work. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  this  class  of  labor  was  unable  to  do  in 
three  days  what  a  good  man  would  do  in  one,  the  Co-operative 
Farm,  I  am  glad  to  say,  was  a  success. 

There  were  many  touching  as  well  as 
amusing  instances  in  our  farm  work.  Some  had  the  idea,  and  it 
was  hard  to  get  them  over  it,  that  the  more  seed  they  put  in  the 
ground,  the  more  crops  they  would  raise.  They  went  on  the  principle 
that  if  two  eyes  would  make  a  dozen  potatoes  a  hundred  ought  to 
make  a  hundred  dozen  potatoes. 

Each  man  was  very  careful  that  no  one 
trespassed  on  his  lot,  and  was  also  very  careful  that  every  bit  of 
space  was  fully  utilized.  It  was  intensive  farming  on  the  closest 
scale.  One  man,  a  stone  cutter,  with  five  days'  hard  work  by 
himself  and  two  daughters  (making  fifteen  days  in  all),  took  from 
his  lot  $120.  Another,  who  lived  in  a  large  tenement  house  in  New 
York,  was  an  expert  gardener  and  was  given  nearly  four  acres  of 
land,  moved  over  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  farms,  rented  a  small 
house,  and  made  8430.  He  and  his  wife  spent  their  whole  time  on 
the  land,  and  were  always  careful  to  have  one  crop  succeed  another. 
One  woman,  whose  husband  was  working  for  a  small  wage,  in  her 


Intensive 
Farming. 


19 


desire  to  help  to  improve  their  condition,  took  one  of  the  lots  and 
did  all  the  work  herself  ;  not  only  this,  but  dug  the  weeds  from  lots 
of  some  of  the  other  planters,  dried  them  in  the  sun  and  placed  the 
ashes  around  her  growing  crops,  thus  making  a  high  grade  fertilizer 
out  of  that  which  before  was  doing  harm. 

We  had  one  man  who  had  been  an 
habitual  drunkard.  He  was  always  being  sent  to  jail  for  five  or  ten 
days  as  an  old  drunk.  He  applied  for  a  lot,  and  one  of  the  police 
officers  said  that  if  the  farms  did  no  other  good  that  they  certainly 
had  done  a  great  deal  when  they  kept  this  man  from  the  streets  ;  for 
he  was  on  his  farm  all  the  time,  tending  his  crops  carefully,  his 
interest  being  so  great  that  it  seemed  as  though  he  had  discovered 
something  that  was  higher  and  better  than  anything  he  had  before, 
and  was  going  to  devote  himself  earnestly  to  it,  so  that  not  once 
during  the  whole  summer  was  he  found  intoxicated.  But  just  as 
soon  as  his  crops  were  harvested  and  disposed  of  he  became  his  old 
self  and  went  right  back  to  drink. 

One  day,  in  going  over  the  farms,  I 
found  a  man  trembling,  the  perspiration  running  down  his  face, 
and  I  thought  possibly  he  had  been  drinking.  I  thought  this  very 
strange,  as  he  was  a  man  who  was  far  above  the  average,  a  college 
graduate  and  who  spoke  three  or  four  languages  fluently,  and  as 
I  had  never  seen  him  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  I  questioned  him 
rather  sharply  and  closely.  I  saw  that  he  did  not  want  to  tell  me 
what  the  trouble  was  before  the  others,  so  I  took  a  walk  down  in  the 
fields  with  him  and  he  said,  "  I  did  not  want  to  talk  before  the  other 
men,  but  the  fact  is  I  have  had  nothing  to  eat  all  day.  When  I  left 
my  home  this  morning  there  was  only  five  cents  in  the  house.  My 
little  children  had  had  no  breakfast  and  I  left  the  five  cents  to  buy 
bread  for  them,  and,  though  I  have  never  done  such  a  thing  before,  I 
begged  my  fare  across  the  ferry  this  morning." 

I  found  another  man,  poor,  emaciated, 
weak.  When  I  inquired  into  his  circumstances  and  condition,  I 
learned  that  he  had  been  subsisting  on  radishes  for  three  days. 

One  poor  woman,  whose  rows  were  very 
crooked,  would  not  take  time  to  make  them  straight,  although  she 
had  been  told  time  and  again.    She  finally  said,  "  My  husband  lies 


Work  and 
Temper- 
ance. 


College 
Graduate. 


20 


Harvest 


sick  in  bed  and  cannot  move  ;  the  children  are  locked  in  the  house 
with  him.  If  the  house  should  burn  he  could  not  get  up,  and  so  I 
hurry  to  get  my  crops  in,  in  order  that  I  may  get  home,  because,  sir, 
I  am  anxious  all  the  time  lest  something  is  happening  over  there." 

But  when  the  harvest  came,  there  was  a 
time  of  rejoicing.  Potatoes  being  gathered  on  every  side,  some 
Home.  selling  in  the  market,  others  peddling,  others  taking  home  and 
storing  in  their  cellars  (such  as  had  them)  for  winter  use,  potatoes, 
cabbages,  turnips,  beans  and  peas.  They  were  like  a  lot  of  children 
who  had  reached  a  picnic  grounds  and  were  ready  for  a  frolic,  or 
like  a  people  who  had  been  travelling  for  a  long  time  to  get  to  a 
better  land,  and  had  at  last  reached  that  place  of  promise.  It  made 
me  feel  that  if  all  the  people  who  owned  land  could  see  that  picture 
they  would  be  ready  to  place  it  at  the  disposal  of  these  people. 

The  experiment  has  convinced  me  thor- 
oughly of  one  thing,  and  that  is,  if  you  will  let  the  poor  of  your 
large  cities  get  to  the  soil,  and  properly  guide  them  for  a  year  or 
two,  they  would  become  not  only  self-supporting,  but  would  in  a 
little  while  do  much  more.  They  could  be  so  guided  that  in  a  few 
years  they  would  own  their  homes,  and  a  citizen  who  owns  his  own 
home  is  always  the  best  kind  of  a  citizen. 

(Signed)    J.  W.  KELGAARD,  Supt. 

Dec.  24,  1895. 


21 


OTHER  CITIES. 

In  the  following  schedule  it  must  be 
noted  that,  as  to  some  of  the  cities  from  which  "no  report  has  been 
received,"  we  do  not  know  that  they  ever  did  more  than  discuss 
the  advisability  of  putting  the  idle  men  to  work  on  the  idle  land  in 
some  way. 

Unless  there  is  an  energetic  person  to 
head  such  a  movement,  willing  to  suffer  the  consequent  newspaper 
notoriety,  such  discussions  usually  come  to  nothing. 


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23 


(!)  Brooklyn  gave  each  man  but  25x200  feet  or  one-eighth  of  an 
acre,  which  was  plowed,  and  tools,  seed  and  fertilizer  fur- 
nished. We  may  remark  that  in  such  a  case  the  most  careful 
instruction  and  minute  cultivation  would  be  essential  to  good 
results. 

(2)  Buffalo  gave  one-third  to  one-half  acre  to  each  family,  which 

was  plowed  and  three  bushels  of  seed  potatoes  furnished. 
All  the  cultivators  had  received  city  relief  in  some  form. 
City  officials  rendered  much  service. 

(3)  Detroit  gave  one-third  of  an  acre  each  for  the  majority  and  one- 

quarter  acre  for  the  rest.  The  plots  were  plowed  and  3 
bushels  of  seed  potatoes  and  2  quarts  of  beans  furnished. 
City  officials  gave  assistance  by  work  valued  at  $500. 

(4)  Minneapolis  gave  one-third  to  one-quarter  acre,  which  was 

plowed,  and  potatoes,  cabbage,  tomato  plants  and  small  seed 
furnished.    City  officials  gave  services  valued  at  $200. 

(5)  St.  Paul  gave  one-half  acre  to  each  person,  which  was  plowed. 

New  York  alone  seems  to  have  furnished  tools.  Duluth  is  re- 
ported to  have  offered  the  bare  land  alone  with  no  instructions  or 
help. 

All  reports  complain  of  the  phenomenal  drought,  but  speak 
of  the  cultivation  as  "  most  thorough  "  except  St.  Paul,  Minn., 
which  found  some  lack  of  attention  to  36  plots  out  of  118.  .  The 
plots  in  Detroit,  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul  were  more  or  less  scat- 
tered. The  use  of  the  land  seems  to  have  been  permitted  free 
everywhere  except  in  Boston. 


24 


The  following  letters  from  those  who 
were  deeply  interested  in  this  movement  in  other  cities,  will  amplify 
the  tabulation  on  page  40.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  full  and 
accurate  statistics  were  neglected,  and  it  is  earnestly  urged  that  the 
utmost  care  be  taken  in  this  direction  during  the  coming  season,  as 
the  plan  will  then  have  far  more  than  a  local  value. 


"  19  Smith  Street, 

"  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  December  18th,  1895, 

Brooklyn  "  Dear  Sir  : — I  desire  to  state,  in  answer  to  your  interroga- 

Drawbacks.  tions,  that  the  experiment  in  cultivating  vacant  lands  has  not  been  a 
failure  in  the  city,  but  it  has  not  met  the  success  that  we  had 
anticipated  for  it  for  various  reasons,  among  which  are  that  we 
commenced  too  late  in  the  season,  and  that  we  had  not  been  suc- 
cessful in  procuring  a  proper  person  to  act  as  superintendent.  We 
have  experimented  with  two,  neither  of  whom  appeared  to  possess 
the  essential  requirements  to  successfully  carry  on  the  work. 
Among  other  reasons  is  the  fact  that  we  were  not  able  to  secure 
lands  within  easy  reach  of  the  people  who  desired  to  cultivate, 
making  it  necessary  for  them  to  expend  car-fare  in  order  to  reach 
the  ground.  Notwithstanding  many  drawbacks,  we  have  reason  to 
feel  pleased  at  the  result. 

"  We  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  a  complete  statement  from 
our  superintendent  ;  but  know  that  we  have  not  lost  any  money, 
and  have  raised  a  sufficient  amount  in  products  to  cover  expen- 
ditures. 

"  The  people  of  Brooklyn  responded  very  satisfactorily  to  our 
calls  for  contributions,  resulting  in  our  having  between  $500  and 
8600  left  over  after  the  season's  work. 

"  We  were  not  able  to  obtain  more  than  twenty  people  who  were 
willing  to  cultivate,  although  we  employed  every  means  in  our 
power,  by  advertising,  sending  circular  letters  to  clergymen  and  by 
using  the  means  at  the  command  of  the  charitable  institutions,  yet, 


Family  Recreation. 


25 

there  did  not  seem  to  be  a  very  great  desire  on  the  part  of  our 
people  to  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  offered. 

u  Yours  respectfully, 
(Signed)  "J.  W.  ERREGGER,  Chairman." 


"M.  H.  Birge  &  Sons, 
"Paper  Hangings, 

"Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  6,  '95. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : — Passing  over  the  initial  difficulties  of  Buffalo, 
rousing  public  sentiment  in  its  favor,  and  organizing,  the  Association 
was  finally  launched  with  Mayor  Edgar  B.  Jewett  as  President, 
Treasurer  and  Chairman  of  Finance  Committee  of  fifty  representa- 
tive men  ;  Wm.  A.  Stevens,  Secretary,  and  Chas.  Michael,  Sup't. 
Sub  Committees  were  appointed  in  four  divisions  of  the  city  to 
assist  in  promoting  the  work. 

"  Suitable  land  was  obtained  with  some  difficulty,  as  much  of 
the  soil  about  Buffalo  is  a  heavy  clay,  better  suited  to  making  bricks 
than  growing  potatoes. 

"  Such  land  offered  as  was  approved  was  plowed,  pulverized 

and  marked  into  plots  of  ^  to  f  an  acre  and  numbered  plainly,  this 

work  being  done  by  neighboring  farmers  and  paid  for  at  $3.50  a 

day.    A  printed  circular  offering  a  '  plot  of  land  for  gardening  Garden 

Plot** 

purposes,'  and  instructing  the  persons  receiving  it,  if  they  wished  to 
use  such  a  plot,  '  to  write  their  name  and  address  plainly  and  send 
to  the  Mayor's  office,'  was  mailed  to  each  family  who  had  received 
city  aid  the  previous  winter. 

"  The  Charity  Organization  Society  was  furnished  with 
blanks  which  they  mailed  to  such  families  appearing  in  their  books 
as  in  their  judgment  could  avail  themselves  of  the  offer.  From 
these  applications  returned  a  register  was  made — by  streets,  not 
names,  alphabetically — so  that  we  could  give  neighbors  adjoining  plots 
and  locate  them  on  the  land  nearest  their  homes. 

"  Postal  cards  were  printed — day  and  place  left  blank — telling 
the  receiver  to  appear  at  such  a  street  on  such  a  morning,  bringing 
a  hoe,  basket  and  knife  ready  to  plant  potatoes.  These  cards  were 
mailed  in  lots  of  from  twenty  to  fifty,  according  to  the  size  of 
the  tract  of  land  designed  to  be  planted  on  the  day  named,  and 


26 


the  people  came  in  troops,  bringing  the  children  and  friends  to  help 
them. 

"The  Secretary  took  up  the  cards  of  notification  and  issued  a 
manilla  card  the  size  of  a  postal  card,  writing  on  it  the  name  and 
address  of  the  holder,  also  the  number  of  the  plot  assigned  them. 
The  potatoes  were  delivered  on  the  ground  three  bushels  to  a 
plot  the  morning  of  planting. 

"  The  Superintendent  showed  each  one  where  their  plot  lay  and 
Detailed     how  to  cut  the  potatoes — in  short,  supervised  all  the  work.  We 

AI  il  II  il  IT  t1  ■ 

ment  planted  in  drills  twenty  inches  apart.  The  three  bushels  planted 
about  one-half  the  plot,  the  remainder  being  left  for  other 
vegetables  to  be  planted  later.  In  this  way  560  families  were 
supplied,  when  we  were  obliged  to  cut  short  our  work  for  lack  of 
funds,  having  used  about  250  acres. 

"  Later,  a  postal  card  (printed)  was  mailed  to  each  plot  owner 
to  supply  themselves  with  white  beans  and  such  other  seed  as  they 
wished  to  plant,  and  finish  their  plot. 

"Where  families  were  too  poor  to  buy  the  necessary  seed,  it 
was  furnished  by  the  Association. 

"  When  the  time  for  hoeing  came  we  found  many  of  the  plots 
neglected,  so  a  circular  No.  1  was  prepared  and  mailed  to  the 
address  of  the  negligent  owners  telling  them  'their  plot  needed 
hoeing,  and  to  clean  it  out  at  once'  and  'keep  it  clean.'  The 
inspection  was  made  usually  by  the  Superintendent  and  Secretary  in 
company.  On  the  next  inspection  such  plots  as  were  still  unworked 
got  circular  No.  2,  telling  them  that  such  negligence  would  not  be 
permitted,  and  that  if  on  the  next  inspection  their  plot  was  not  in 
order  they  would  forfeit  all  claim  to  it  and  it  would  be  turned  over 
to  some  one  who  would  work  it.  To  such  as  did  not  respond  to  this 
No.  3  was  mailed,  reading  that  their  plot  would  be  given  away  on 
Tuesday  morning.  When  No.  3  failed  we  divided  the  plot  in  two 
and  assigned  it  to  families  we  had  been  obliged  to  disappoint  from 
lack  of  funds,  and  so  carried  the  number  of  families  benefited  up  to 
578.    [Apparently  only  nine  persisted  in  neglect. — Ed.] 

"  The  round  of  inspection  went  on  constantly,  circular  No.  2 
being  mailed  as  often  as  it  was  found  necessarv.  Circular  No.  4  was 
known  as  the  '  bugging  circular,'  and  was  sent  when  necessary  ;  but 


27 


we  were  not  troubled  much  with  the  pests.    Each  plot  holder  keeps 

a  little  book  in  which  is  entered  a  memorandum  of  all  the  crop  Inspections. 

harvested.    As  a  result  of  all  this  detail  we  are  harvesting  now  from 

20  to  52-J-  bushels  of  potatoes  to  a  plot,   one-half  planted  to 

potatoes,  and   as   high  as   ninety  bushels  where  the  whole  plot 

was  given  to  potatoes.    A  conservative  estimate  gives  us  a  food 

product  of  a  market  value  of  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars — 

with  a  total  outlay  of  less  than  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars. 

"The  Charity  Organization  Society  investigated  all  applications 
that  came  to  us  other  than  through  the  regular  applications,  and 
furnished  us  a  Polish  interpreter  as  often  as  we  had  need  for  one. 
Other  than  that,  the  work  was  done  entirely  by  the  Superintendent 
and  Secretary,  there  being  no  foremen  or  paid  clerks.  The  Mayor's 
office  furnished  desk  room,  so  we  had  practically  no  expense  except 
printing  and  postage.  The  amount  of  good  done  all  these  people, 
beside  the  food  provided  them,  cannot  be  estimated.  And  the 
gratitude  a  large  majority  of  them  show  at  being  permitted  to  work 
the  land  is  pitiful — I  don't  know  how  else  to  express  it. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 
(Signed)     "  W.  A.  STEVENS,  Sec'y." 

Captain  Gardener,  U.  S.  Army,  who  was 
of  a  practical  turn  of  mind  and  had  some  experience  in  managing 
gardens  for  troops,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Detroit  Farms.  The 
Captain  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  poor  and  gave  up  his  leave 
of  absence  to  devote  himself  to  the  work.    He  writes  : — 

"  Detroit,  December  12,  1895.         ^  1A 

Detroit. 

"To  the  New  York  Association  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor. 

"  Following  our  efforts  here  in  Detroit,  in  1894,  it  was  New 
York  which  first  saw  the  utility  and  common  sense  of  the  plan 
and  adopted  it  in  1895. 

"After  Mr.  N.  S.  Rosenau  came  to  Detroit  to  look  into  the 
plan  and  you  took  it  up,  the  New  York  papers  and  your  pamphlets 
gave  the  scheme  wide  circulation,  so  that  it  was  rescued  out  of  the 
domain  of  ridicule  and  flippancy  to  which  it  had  been  consigned  by 


28 

many.  I  was  so  impressed  with  the  great  good  that  would  result  to 
our  laboring  poor,  if  this  plan  was  generally  adopted,  that  I  wrote 
an  article  upon  the  subject,  setting  forth  our  methods  and  success. 
I  had  offered  it  to  some  of  the  leading  magazines,  by  all  of  whom  it 
New  York's  was  respectfully  declined.  But  after  New  York  adopted  the  plan, 
Example.  severai  0f  these  asked  for  it  and  offered  pay,  who  had  previously 
refused  it  when  offered  gratis. 

"  It  was  published  in  the  Charities  Review.  Since  this  time,  I 
have  been  kept  busy  answering  questions  and  writing  about  it. 

"  This  year  we  have  met  with  remarkable  success.  We  plowed 
and  harrowed,  and  furnished  seed  for  1546  parcels  of  land  to  as 
many  heads  of  families,  in  all  455  acres  in  \  and  i  acre  pieces.  We 
harvested  in  potatoes  alone,  not  counting  other  produce,  over  60,000 
bushels,  an  average  of  40  bushels  per  family.  The  total  crops  were 
worth  $30,000,  at  an  expense  of  $4,900  out  of  an  appropriation  of 
$5,000  for  that  purpose. 

"  Our  people  were  mostly  shovel  laborers,  whose  wages  do  not 
average  a  dollar  a  day  and  who  have  large  families.  It  would  do 
your  heart  good  to  see  the  gratitude  and  appreciation  of  these 
people.  I  tell  you,  Mr.  Hall,  it  is  the  opportunity  to  help  themselves 
that  people  want,  and  it  does  seem  so  wrong  that  in  cities  like  this, 
people  should  at  times  almost  die  of  starvation  and  yet  thousands  of 
acres  lie  idle  within  its  limits  which  are  held  for  speculation.  It  is  a 
sort  of  a  '  dog  in  the  manger '  business.  Poor  people  are  often  as 
sensitive  about  being  considered  objects  of  charity  as  you  or  I  would 
be,  and  as  a  rule  they  prefer  to  work  for  what  they  get,  in  preference 
to  receiving  things  for  nothing. 

"  We  succeeded  in  getting  our  land  for  the  purpose  free  this 
year.  I  predict  that  in  a  year  or  two  the  scheme  will  be  universally 
adopted  in  the  United  States,  for  it  appeals  to  common  sense,  and 
besides  saving  taxation,  it  teaches  people  to  rely  upon  themselves 
and  their  own  efforts.  Direct  giving  makes  paupers  ;  this  method 
constantly  reduces  their  number. 

"  Yours  very  truly, 


Land  and 
Food. 


(Signed)    " C.  GARDENER. 


29 


"  Detroit,  Mich.,  March  22d,  1895. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : — The  city  poor-farm  scheme  as  operated  in 
this  city  last  year  was  a  great  success.  The  poor,  hard-working 
people  see  that  upon  a  little  patch  of  half  an  acre  they  can  produce 
enough  to  half  support  themselves,  and  it  sets  them  to  thinking. 
They  reason  thus  :  '  If  I  can  almost  live  on  half  an  acre,  I  could 
make  a  comfortable  living  on  a  few  acres,'  and  they  begin  to  figure 
on  getting  into  the  country. 

"  In  answer  to  a  question  asked  me,  I  asserted  that  at  least  one 
hundred  families  had  sought  and  found  homes  in  the  country  as  a 

1116  laities. 

direct  result  of  their  experience  of  last  year.  I  fell  far  short  of  the 
mark,  however,  for  one  gentleman,  the  Hon.  Joseph  Waltz,  of 
Waltz,  Mich.,  (a  small  village  in  this  county)  writes  :  '  I  see  in  the 
papers  what  you  say  about  city  farming  and  think  you  are  right  in 
the  matter,  as  twenty-five  families  from  the  city  have  located  here- 
abouts.' If  twenty-five  families  have  located  in  the  vicinity  of  one 
little  village,  the  number  of  families  who  have  located  in  other 
sections  of  the  state  must  far  exceed  one  hundred. 

(Signed)  "  F.  B.  DICKERSON, 

"  Superintendent  of  Poor." 


Under   date   of   December,  1895,  Mr. 

Dickerson  writes  again  : — 

"  Dear  Sir  : — I  have  no  particular  data  about  the  number  who 
have  left  the  city  in  consequence  of  the  '  Potato  Patch  Scheme,'  but 
am  constantly  hearing  of  such  cases.  The  interest  in  that  direction 
has  not  abated,  but,  if  anything,  increased. 

"Very  truly, 
(Signed)     "  F.  B.  DICKERSON." 

Definite  figures  on  this  subject  would  be 

most  valuable. 


30 


Dulutb. 


Interest  of 

the 
Churches. 


"Pro-Cathedral,  Duluth,  23d  December.  1895. 
"  The  movement  in  Duluth  for  the  cultivation  of  vacant  lots 
was  successful  in  a  certain  degree.  When  I  proposed  in  a  public 
letter  to  carry  out  the  plan,  the  newspapers  gave  it  a  clear  approval, 
and  the  owners  of  lots  told  me  to  take  any  vacant  places  they  had, 
for  the  work. 

"  The  agent  of  the  Associated  Charities,  Mr.  Miller,  also  took 
great  interest  in  the  charity  and  kept  some  account  of  the  number 
of  persons  who  took  lots  for  cultivation.  While  many  applied  to  me 
personally,  others  called  on  the  owners  of  the  lands  and  arranged 
with  them  in  person,  thus  we  have  nothing  more  than  a  general  idea 
of  the  amount  of  land  taken. 

"  Probably  about  300  persons  in  all  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity.  The  priests  in  the  various  churches  encouraged  the 
poor  of  their  parishes,  but  this  first  year  the  movement  was  of  slow 
growth. 

"  If  this  work  be  taken  up  next  year  by  the  Associated  Charities, 
aided  by  the  city,  it  will  do  much  good.  The  general  burthen  of 
out-door  relief  will  be  lessened  ;  the  poor  will  become  more  self- 
reliant,  and  the  children  will  have  a  little  spot  of  mother  earth 
which,  in  cultivating,  will  bring  them  health  and  strength.  We 
notice  here  as  a  good  effect  of  the  work  that  some  have  taken  land 
on  the  St.  Paul  and  Duluth  Railroad  property,  and  this  is  very 
encouraging. 

Yours  sincerely, 
(Signed)  "JAMES  McGOLRICK,  Bishop  of  Duluth." 


31 


CONTINUED  SUCCESS. 

u  The  potato  farms  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  have  been  tremendous 
successes  this  year.  There  were  1546  allotments,  or  about  500 
acres.  This  is  601  more  allotments  than  last  year.  The  estimates 
of  the  value  of  crops  are  : 


What  was  raised. 

Amount. 

Estimated  value 
March  to  Au- 

(r  1]  a  t  T»Tir>P«5 

when  most  of 
the  crops  were 
consumed. 

Market  value 
at  present 
prices. 

61,840  bu. 

$40,196 

$15,460  00 

1,000  bu. 

2,000 

1,280  00 

Turnips  

3,000  bu. 

1,000* 

750  00 

1,000  bu. 

400* 

250  00 

400  bu. 

180 

116  00 

4,668  bd. 

250* 

117  50 

Squashes  

400  hd. 

30* 

23  80 

Pumpkins  

500  hd. 

Totals  

67,240  bu. 
5,568  hd. 

$44,056 

$17,997  30 

*No  market  quotations ;  estimated. 


"  These  figures  of  crops  were  secured  by  Secretary  McGregor 
of  the  commission.  He  sent  out  large  numbers  of  postal  cards 
to  the  people  to  whom  land  was  allotted,  asking  them  to  write ' 
on  the  cards  and  return  to  the  commission  the  number  of  bushels 
of  potatoes  they  raised,  specifying  each  kind.  The  cards  were 
sent  to  about  one-half  the  people  holding  land.  They  were 
filled  out  and  returned  to  the  number  of  480,  which  represents  about 
one-fourth  of  those  holding  land.  From  the  results  obtained,  com- 
bined with  the  experience  of  the  commissioners  and  of  those  in 
charge,  the  commission  has  been  enabled  to  estimate  the  crops  as  a 
whole.  In  some  of  the  cases  the  returns  show  that  60  bushels  of 
potatoes  were  raised  to  an  allotment.  The  commission,  after  com- 
paring notes  on  the  total  crop,  have  allowed  an  average  of  forty 
bushels  of  potatoes  to  an  allotment. 

"  The  commission  was  given  an  appropriation  of  $5,000  by  Common 
the  Common  Council,  and  in  addition  thereto  small  donations  ^°xi<l^ § 
were  received.    There  is  a  balance  on  hand  of  about  $100.  Of 


o2 


the  3000  bushels  of  turnips  raised  on  the  farms  500  bushels 
were  raised  by  the  commission  itself  and  turned  over  to  the 
poor  commission.  In  addition  to  the  crops  raised  already  mentioned 
there  was  considerable  small  garden  stuff,  consisting  of  lettuce, 
radishes,  cauliflower,  peas,  etc.,  of  which  no  account  could  be  taken. 
The  commission  did  not  think  it  wise  to  bear  the  expense  of  gather- 
ing statistics  as  to  nativity,  financial  condition,  number  of  family, 
etc.,  of  the  poor  people  receiving  land.  But  in  a  general  way  it  is 
stated  that  the  Polish  people  predominated  in  those  assisted,  the 
Germans  next,  then  the  Americans  and  colored  people.  Of  the  1546 
people  given  land   1218  were    on   the  poor  commissioner's  list. 

"  The  final  report  will  recommend  that  the  Legislature  be 
asked  to  give  the  City  of  Detroit  power  to  purchase  a  farm  on  the 
west  side  and  another  on  the  east  side  of  the  city  for  the  purpose 
of  making  the  potato  farm  a  permanent  feature  in  caring  for 
Detroit's  poor.  The  land,  the  report  will  say,  can  be  purchased 
far  out  of  the  city,  if  deemed  advisable,  without  being  any 
detriment  to  the  project.  The  land  can  be  rented  to  the  poor 
for  a  nominal  sum,  sufficient  to  take  care  of  the  interest  on  the 
investment,  and  to  fund  the  capital  if  thought  advisable. 

"  Inasmuch  as  there  are  over  50,000  vacant  lots  within  the  city's 

boundaries,  the   single-taxers  are  suggesting  through  the  Detroit 

50,000  papers  that  this  land  would  be  utilized  if  taxes  were  taken  off  houses, 
Vacant      F  F 

Lots.  machinery  and  other  kinds  of  wealth  and  put  on  land  values.  This 
would  immediately  give  laborers  employment,  and  the  necessity  for 
poor  farms  would  disappear. 

"  Capt.  Cornelius  Gardener,  the  Chairman  of  the  commission, 
says  : 

"  '  I  firmly  believe  that  if  the  value  of  the  crops  raised  on  this 
year's  farm  were  not  more  than  the  $5,000  appropriated  for  carrying 
on  the  farm,  the  plan  would  still  have  been  a  success,  inasmuch  as 
instead  of  giving  charity  outright  the  city  has  taught  the  poor  to 
help  themselves.  I  expect  the  plan  will  prevail  all  over  the  country. 
There  are  sure  to  be  always  1000  poor  families  in  a  city  of  the  size 
of  Detroit  in  need  of  such  aid,  who  will  have  to  be  taken  care  of  by 
the  poor  commission  with  outright  charity  unless  this  plan  is 
adopted.    Those  helped  were  for  the  most  part  people  with  homes, 


33 


and  there  was  none  of  that  depressing  influence  of  a  systematic  poor- 
house  in  connection  with  the  charity  extended  to  them.' 

"The  detailed  report  of  the  commission  indicates  the  following 
expenditures  : 

Plowing  $1,530 

Seed  potatoes,  253,905  pounds   1,712 

Other  seed   252 

Labor,  hauling,  staking  land,  etc   714 

Stationery,  printing,  paris  green,  stakes,  clerk  hire,  etc.  695 


Total  $4,903 

"  The  secret  of  the  success  of  the  plan  in  Detroit  is  the  active 
co-operation  of  owners  of  vacant  land,  an  energetic  Mayor  and  the 
use  of  the  machinery  of  the  poor  commission  to  locate  needy 
families. 

(Signed)     "JUDSON  GRENELL, 

"Of  the  Committee." 


We  clip  from  Mayor  Pingree's  personal 
account,  kindly  forwarded  to  our  Secretary,  as  follows  : — 

"  There  were  reserved  by  the  committee  30  lots  which  were 
planted  with  potatoes  and  turnips,  under  its  direction.  The  purpose 
of  these  lots  was  to  replace  to  a  cultivator  any  lot  from  which  he 
might  be  moved  by  the  land  being  sold  for  building  purposes.   *  * 

"  People  who  had  obtained  assistance  from  that  commission 
during  the  past  two  years,  were  notified  by  it  that  land  for  cultiva- 
tion was  at  their  disposal,  and  that  failing  to  avail  themselves  of  this 
opportunity  to  help  themselves  their  names  would  be  stricken  from  Undesery- 
the  books  of  the  commission,  as  not  deserving  aid  this  winter.  It  is  h\g  Poor, 
an  error  to  suppose  that  because  people  are  poor  and  needy,  that 
they  refuse  to  help  themselves  where  an  opportunity  offers.  From 
the  experience  of  the  committee,  such  is  seldom  the  case.    *  * 

"  Out  of  the  1546  applicants  for  lots,  1258  had  been  on  the 
books  of  the  City  Poor  Commission.  Opportunity  was  also  offered 
to  obtain  a  parcel  by  paying  a  small  sum  of  money,  from  50  cents  to 
one  dollar,  as  rent.  About  one  hundred  persons  availed  themselves 
of  this. 

"  At  an  inspection  made  about  September  10th,  by  the  com- 


84 


mittee,  for  the  purpose  of  awarding  small  prizes  of  money,  subscribed 
Money  for  this  purpose  by  members  of  the  committee,  for  the  best  taken- 
Prizes.  care  0f  jotSj  ft  was  foun(j  impossible  to  award  such  prizes  for  the 
reason  that  there  were  no  weeds  to  be  seen  anywhere,  and  there 
were  at  least  250  lots  between  which  there  was  no  choice. 

"  It  is  fair  to  say  that  the  scheme  brought  returns  to  the  culti- 
vators to  about  the  value  of  $30,000  ;  but  even  if  its  returns 
amounted  to  only  half  that  sum,  it  was  well  worth  the  money 
invested,  for  in  every  case,  it  went  to  the  support  of  our  most  needy 
people  who,  by  their  own  labor,  provided  that  which  perhaps  they 
might  otherwise  have  been  obliged  to  receive  from  direct  charity. 
Each  person  was  permitted  to  harvest  without  interference  or  con- 
dition, whatever  his  lot  contained  ;  nor  did  the  committee  concern 
itself  with  the  disposition  of  the  crops. 

"  As  will  be  seen,  the  cost  per  lot  for  plowing,  harrowing  and 
furnishing  the  larger  portion  of  the  seed,  and  for  stakes,  is  $3.10. 

"  The  committee  is  of  the  opinion  that  in  order  to  successfully 
carry  out  this  plan  for  the  next  year,  it  is  necessary  that  the  land  to 
be  used  be  obtained  this  winter,  and  that  the  Board  of  Public 
Works  be  requested  to  deposit  thereon  the  street  sweepings  in  order 
that  the  soil  may  be  enriched  thereby.  Much  of  the  land  used 
therefor,  has  been  almost  exhausted  of  fertilizing  qualities.  Were 
this  done,  much  larger  returns  could  be  expected." 


East  "  100  Prospect  street,  East  Orange,  N.  J., 

Tange'  "  12th  mo.  2d,  1895. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — Yours  of  30th  ult.  in  regard  to  cultivating  vacant 
lands  is  received.  Our  experiment  was  carried  on  by  a  few  individ- 
uals, for  the  purpose  of  learning  whether  it  was  practicable.  We 
kept  no  data  from  which  we  can  fill  up  a  report,  and  do  not  think  it 
would  benefit  you  or  us  in  joining  in  your  report,  as  our  experiment 
was  purely  local.  I  think  I  can  say  it  was  a  success,  as  over  75%  took 
good  care  of  their  plots  and  received  benefit  from  them. 

"  Yours,  respectfully, 

(Signed)    "  GEO.  A.  VAIL." 


3o 


"  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  Dec.  3d,  1895.  ^a  Crosse. 

"  Dear  Sir  : — We  made  an  effort  early  last  spring  to  try  to 
interest  the  unemployed  poor  people  of  our  city  in  the  work  of  culti- 
vating some  unimproved  vacant  land  near  at  hand,  for  the  purpose 
of  raising  vegetables  for  their  own  use,  offering  to  plow,  and  furnish 
seed  without  expense. 

"  Offers  of  land  were  made  by  owners,  and  all  necessary  money 
for  seed  and  other  expenses  were  promised  by  the  county  officers, 
but  only  two  or  three  persons  responded. 

''This  was  owing  mainly  to  the  fact  that  our  soil  is  very  sandy, 
and  requires  much  manure — and  then,  without  a  liberal  use  of  water  Drought, 
in  a  dry  season  we  are  not  sure  of  getting  any  crops.  Another 
reason  is  that  most  of  our  poor  people  (men)  find  employment 
during  the  season  from  April  to  November  in  saw  mills  and  on 
the  river,  and  cannot  work  in  the  field. 

"  We  have  faith  in  the  Detroit  Pingree  plan  when  all  the  con- 
ditions are  favorable. 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

(Signed)    "WM.  W.  JONES,  Secretary." 


We  clip  from  the  First  Annual  Report 
of  the  Associated  Charities  of  La  Crosse,  Wis.: — 

11  The  Grand  Army  of  Impecunious  Tourists,  commonly  called 

J  Tramps, 
tramps,  as  usual  has  invaded  our  borders  to  some  extent.    A  few 

have  accepted  an  invitation  to  take  a  card  to  the  Secretary's  office, 

where  offers  of  work  have  been  made  by  him,  whenever  possible. 

To  their  credit,  let  it  be  said,  a  very  few  have  accepted  the  offer, 

performed  good  service  for  a  day  or  two  and  moved  forward.  *  *  * 

Our  experience  with  this  class  of  people  leads  us  to  believe  thatvery 

few  of  them  really  desire  permanent  work  and  that  they  are  unworthy 

of  any  assistance  by  benevolent  people.    They  prefer  the  tramp  life, 

with  all  its  hardships,  to  quiet,  honest  toil,  and  so  long  as  they  are 

fed  by  well-meaning  but  mistaken  philanthropists  the  army  will 


36 


increase  and  tramp,  tramp  continually.  The  only  way,  it  seems  to 
us,  to  reduce  the  ranks  of  the  grand  army  is  to  make  the  business 
unprofitable  by  withholding  supplies." 

[It  does  not  appear  why  these  wanderers  could  not  have  been  offered 
work  on  a  Co-operative  Farm  and  if  they  refused,  then  firmly  dealt 
with. — Ed.] 


"  Rochester,  Minn.,  Oct.  3d,  1895. 
"  My  Dear  Sir  : — Your  favor  to  Secretary  of  Board  of  Trade 
has  been  referred  to  me.    We  have  put  the  vacant  lot  plan  of  help- 
ing the  poor  to  help  themselves  in  operation  in  Minneapolis  with 
Minne-      great  success.    We  are  not  ready  to  make  our  final  report  yet.  As 
apolis.       soon  as  I  return  to  Minneapolis  I  shall  call  our  commission  together 
and  make  our  report.    I  fathered  the  plan  in  Minneapolis  and  am 
deeply  interested  in  its  success. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

"S.  A.  STOCKWELL." 


The  Seattle  (Washington)  Post  Intelli- 
gencer of  Sept.  12,  1895,  says  : — 

"  The  waste  land  plan  has  proved  as  marked  a  success  in  Seattle 

Seattle. 

as  in  Detroit,  where  it  was  started,  and  as  in  New  York.  *  *  * 
It  was  started  in  Seattle  last  April,  but  the  movement  was  not  well 
under  way  till  the  middle  of  May.  There  were  171  applicants.  Of 
this  number  thirty  allowed  their  applications  to  lapse,  leaving  141 
who  went  to  work,  representing  827  individuals.  Lands  were  se- 
cured for  eighty-nine,  while  fifty-two  furnished  their  own  land,  but 
Handful  of  were  assisted  with  seeds  and  implements.  Fifteen  applicants  who 
Seed.  were  furnished  with  seeds,  etc.,  abandoned  their  land  on  account  of 
sickness  or  other  good  reason.  Three  men  quit  without  any  reason. 
The  city  donated  $100.  The  expenditures  amounted  to  $203.70, 
leaving  a  balance  of  $11.35.  The  average  cost  to  each  applicant  for 
seed  and  implements  was  only  $1.44.  The  seed  furnished  each 
applicant  amounted  on  an  average  to  1  ounce  of  onions,  \  ounce 
lettuce,  \  ounce  carrots,  \  ounce  radish,  1  ounce  turnips,  1  pound 
beans,  1  pound  onion  sets,  1  pound  peas,  1  sack  of  potatoes. 


37 

"  Mr.  Bridges,  the  Superintendent,  by  investigation  of  the  crops 
of  the  ninety-six  who  planted  potatoes,  finds  the  average  crop  for 
each  applicant  is  twenty  bushels,  which  would  give  in  potatoes  alone 
1920  bushels.  It  was  impossible  to  obtain  exact  figures  for  the  other 
vegetables,  as  many  have  lived  during  the  summer  on  what  they 
have  raised.  One  applicant  has  kept  a  careful  record  of  all  he  had 
obtained  from  the  seed  given  hin,  which  is  as  follows  :  Potatoes,  28 
bushels  ;  beets,  5  bushels  ;  onions,  3  bushels  ;  cucumbers,  17  dozen  ; 
cabbage,  300  head  ;  peas,  1  sack  ;  beans,  2  sacks  ;  carrots,  4  bushels ; 
lettuce  and  radishes,  $3  worth  ;  total  value  of  this  one  crop,  $35.50. 
The  estimated  value  of  all  the  vegetables  raised  by  the  applicants 
who  have  completed  their  harvest  is  $2,450. 

"  The  Rev.  D.  C.  Garrett's  report  says  :  Considering  that  the 
plan  was  inaugurated  quite  late  for  this  climate,  and  the  misfortune 
of  unusual  drought,  which  has  proved  entirely  disastrous  to  some 
crops  on  high  land,  where  water  could  not  be  obtained,  the  success 
attained  is  such  as  to  justify  a  strong  recommendation  for  a  repeti- 
tion of  this  movement  early  in  1896.  Aside  from  furnishing  employ 
ment  to  worthy  men  and  food  to  their  families,  the  plan  is  one  of  the 
best  ever  proposed  for  encouraging  thrift,  self-help  and  a  desire  to 
secure  one's  living  from  the  mother  earth,  man's  natural  and 
inalienable  source  of  subsistence.  *  *  *  This  system,  if  well 
directed,  could  be  carried  out  on  such  a  scale  as  to  practically 
abolish  poverty  in  Seattle,  except  from  sickness  or  intemperance. 

"  To  prevent  any  one  from  losing  the  results  of  his  labor  by  jjmergenc 
reason  of  the  owner  of  the  land  selling  or  building  before  the  crop  is  Patches, 
harvested,  it  is  recommended  that  the  board  of  managers  have 
planted  and  cultivated  a  number  of  emergency  patches  to  be  given 
to  those  who  are  dispossessed  of  the  land  they  first  occupy  and  till." 


"  toklas,  slngerman  &  co.,  incorporated, 
"Clothing,  &c,  713-715  Front  street, 

"  Seattle,  Washington,  Oct.  3,  1895. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : — Replying  to  your  esteemed  favor  *  *  * 
It  is  true  that  this  is  our  first  year,  but  I  can  not  per?nit  the  use  of  the 


38 


word  x experiment'  to  be  applied  to  our  station.  //  was  a  grand 
success  and  we  will  work  to  resume  our  labors  next  spring. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"FERDINAND  TOKLAS, 
"Sec'y  Land  Plan  of  Seattle." 


St.  Louis. 


"Henry  Fairback,  Builder, 
"Builders'  Exchange,  Tenth  &  Olive  Sts. 

"  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Dec.  24th,  1895. 
"  We  planted  in  all  about  ten  acres  divided  in  lots,  as  we  found 
the  soil  suitable   for  cultivation.    Generally  each  lot  contained 
about  one-fourth  of  an  acre,  which  we  plowed  for  the  persons  who 
were  to  plant  and  raise  vegetables  on  the  same. 

"  We  helped  about  120  people,  mostly  families.  In  some  cases 
we  furnished  tents  for  them  to  live  in  on  the  land  during  the 
summer  season.  These  tents  were  large  enough  to  accommodate 
four  persons  comfortably.  Before  assigning  parcels  of  land  to 
applicants  we  would  examine  as  to  whether  they  were  honest, 
worthy  people  whom  we  could  depend  upon,  and  that  they  would 
benefit  themselves. 

"We  furnished  all  the  seed  and  implements  to  plant  and  culti- 
vate with.  Most  all  planted  potatoes,  lettuce,  beans,  turnips  and 
radishes.  Every  person  to  whom  we  allotted  ground  worked  with 
spirit  and  industry.  The  result  was,  at  the  end  of  the  season,  a 
splendid  success  and  a  betterment  for  humanity. 

"Our  contributions  financially  were  limited,  we  only  had  about 

Lack  of  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars  to  work  with,  we  had  to  use  the  most 
Public  Aid.  ,  .  ,  .  ,     .  . 

stringent  economy,  so  as  to  help  those  who  wanted  to  work  for  their 

own  food.  In  the  beginning  we  met  with  many  discouraging  condi- 
tions, as  we  had  a  very  dry  spring,  and  did  not  commence  operations 
until  the  first  of  June. 

"  Our  entire  executive  committee,  composed  of  five  members, 
watched  and  attended  to  the  work  without  pay. 

"  The  results  of  helping  the  unemployed  by  giving  to  each 
family  of  persons  only  enough  land  to  cultivate  and  raise  food  for 
their  own.  consumption  is  the  proper  plan,  which  all  cities  should 
adopt. 


39 


"  If  all  our  cities  could  compel  all  idle  persons,  beggars  and  Labor 
tramps,  who  are  a  burden  on  the  town  and  an  eyesore  on  our  Coloniei 
streets,  and  have  them  work  for  their  living,  place  them  on  land, 
teach  them  to  become  not  only  useful  to  themselves,  but  also  by 
their  labor  help  others,  with  their  industry  our  social  conditions 
would  improve,  poverty  would  diminish  and  character  and  manhood 
be  elevated  thereby.  "  Very  respectfully, 

"HENRY  FAIRBACK, 
"Chairman  of  the  Detroit  Plan." 


HOW  IT  PAID  IN  TOLEDO. 

RESULT  OF  VACANT   LOT  FARMING   LAST  SEASON. 

"  The  infirmary  directors  have  carefully  compiled  reports  of  the  Toledo, 
results  of  last  summer's  farming  of  vacant  lots  by  poor  of  the  city. 
There  were  137  lots  planted,  of  which  92  produced  crops.  These 
were  planted  by  62  families,  and  21  families  found  only  barrenness 
for  their  work.  The  92  lots  turned  759J  bushels  of  potatoes,  an 
average  of  12^  bushels  to  each  family.  There  was  $136.20  donated 
for  the  purpose,  and  $107.45  expended  for  seed,  plowing,  etc., 
leaving  $28.75  for  a  starter  for  next  year.  Of  the  expenditures, 
$50.16  was  upon  lots  which  proved  barren. 

"Value  of  crop  at  25c.  per  bushel,  $189.87  ;  cost  of  raising 
759J-  bushels,  6Jc.  per  bushel,  including  barren  lots,  13c;  total  cost 
per  family,  $1.17. 

"  Thirty-three  Americans  planted  lots,  31  Polish,  8  Irish,  6 
Germans,  3  French  and  2  colored. 

"Those  in  charge  were  unable  to  do  anything  until  the  10th  of 
May,  as  the  donations  came  in  late.  Three  thousand  bushels  of 
potatoes  could  have  been  raised  at  an  extra  expense  of  not  over  $50. 

"  Over  100  families  have  made  application  to  plant  next  year." 


[From  a  local  paper]. 

"  Washington,  D.  C,  December  2,  1895.      _   .  . 

'  Washing 

"  Dear  Sir  : — In  reply  to  yours,  I  regret  to  say  that  our  lot       j).  c. 
planting  last  season  was  not  a  success,  owing  to  our  people  starting 
it  very  late  in  the  spring  and  the  excessive  drought  during  the 
summer.    I  therefore  think  best  not  to  publish  our  statistics  this 
season.  "  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"  F.  L.  MOORE,  Chairman." 


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42 


A  few  letters  from  those  who  had  the 
best  opportunities  of  judging  of  our  own  work  are  added  in  order  to 
set  out  independent  impressions.  A  summary  of  rather  imperfect 
Reports  from  other  cities  will  be  found  on  other  pages.  The  table 
of  social  statistics  will  afford  opportunity  for  the  most  varied  deduc- 
tions. Each  interested  person  will  do  that  from  his  own  view  point. 
Instead  of  drawing  any  general  conclusions,  the  opinion  of  the  Com- 
mittee in  charge  is  stated.  These  reasons  are  of  value  because  the 
men  expressing  them  kept  in  touch  with  the  work. 


"14th  street,  New  York. 
"  What  especially  gratified  me  was  to  see  that  a  natural  plan 

Natural     has  been  found  to  give  New  York  tenement  house  people  a  chance 
Plan 

to  work  in  the  open  air  within  reasonable  walking  distance  of 
their  own  homes,  directly  for  their  own  benefit,  and  thus  to  help 
them  without  destroying  their  self-respect  by  offering  them  alms. 

"  If  the  use  of  larger  plots  of  vacant  land,  which  would  not  be 
otherwise  used,  is  freely  offered,  the  plan  could  be  and  should  be 
made  self-supporting  in  every  large  city  of  the  United  States.  That 
it  is  self-supporting  in  and  near  the  City  of  New  York  has  been 
fully  demonstrated  by  the  experiment  of  the  season  of  1895. 

(Signed)     "WM.  STEINWAY." 


"  Office  of  Kuhn,  Loeb  &  Co., 
"  Dec.  12th,  1895. 
"The  features  of  the  Vacant  Lot  Scheme  which  most  induced 

Thrift 

Inculcated    me  t0  ^nterest  myse^  m  tne  scheme  were  : 

"1.  The  promise  it  held  out  to  almost  every  poor  family  to 
utilize  the  unemployed  time  of  any  of  its  members  in  a  manner  cer- 
tain to  secure  it  a  comparatively  good  return,  and 

"  2.  That  the  employment  or  investment  of  labor  was  to  be 
made  during  the  summer,  or  at  a  time  when  a  pinch  to  the  poor  is 
generally  least  felt,  while  the  benefit  from  the  product  would  come 
in  the  autumn  or  winter,  or  at  a  time  when  the  needs  of  the  depend- 
ent class  are,  as  a  rule,  the  greatest. 

"  I  believe  that  the  experiment  we  have  made  has  amply  proved 


43 


that  these  purposes  have  been  attained,  and  I  hope,  with  the  expe- 
rience we  have  now  acquired,  the  results  of  furthur  efforts  in  the 
same  direction  are  certain  to  be  even  more  satisfactory. 

"  Truly  yours, 
(Signed)    "  JACOB  H.  SCHIFF." 


"  Office  of  Industrial  Christian  Alliance. 

"  The  three  features  of  the  Vacant  Lots  Cultivation  enterprise 
that  give  me  especial  satisfaction  are  :  Waste 

"  1.    The  demonstration  of  the  willingness  and  ability  of  the  Labor, 
tenement  house  population  to  become  successful  farmers  with  a  little 
encouragement  and  instruction. 

"2.  The  financial  results  of  the  very  hastily  organized  experi- 
ment of  last  summer.  Labor  that  would  otherwise  have  gone  to 
waste  returned  more  than  $12,000  from  an  outlay  of  about  $4,000. 

"3.  The  encouragement  that  this  experiment  gives  to  the  belief 
that  the  deplorable  results  of  the  congested  population  of  cities  can 
best  be  avoided  by  a  return  of  the  people  to  the  soil.  It  is  certainly 
a  wicked  anomaly,  directly  contrary  to  the  intention  of  the  Creator, 
that  men,  women  and  children  should  be  starving  or  working  out 
their  lives  in  grinding  poverty,  in  cities  contiguous  to  which  tens  of 
thousands  of  acres  of  untilled  soil  lie  ready  to  provide  bountifully 
for  every  need  of  a  teeming  population. 

"  (Signed)        ARTHUR  W.  MILBURY." 


"4  East  46th  street,  New  York. 

"  In  answer  to  your  inquiry  permit  me  to  say  that  what  im- 
presses me  most  deeply  about  our  'Cultivation  of  Vacant  Lots,'  is 

"  1st.  That  if  the  poor  are  allowed  free  opportunity  to  work 
they  nearly  all  will  work.  Those  who  will  not  work  should  be  left 
to  starve. 

"  2d.  That  the  main  cause  of  undeserved  pauperism  is  specu- 
lation in  vacant  land  near  the  cities,  which  ought  to  be  checked  by 
enforcing  the  law  requiring  that  they  be  assessed  at  the  same  rates 
for  taxation  as  other  property. 

(Signed)    "BOLTON  HALL." 


Unde- 
served 
Poverty. 


44 


"  Charities  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul, 
"  New  York,  Dec.  15,  1895. 
Fresh  Air  1  In  reading  your  report  I  was  particularly  impressed  with  the 

advantage  it  gave  mothers  and  children  by  takitig  them  away  so  fre- 
quently from  the  crowded  and  heated  city  and  giving  them  a  taste  of 
the  country  life  so  conducive  to  health  and  energy.  We  were  not 
successful  in  inducing  our  people  to  take  up  the  work,  because  in 
most  cases  the  men  out  of  employment  had  to  be  on  the  watch  when 
work  would  start  up,  else  they  would  find  their  places  taken  by 
others.  "  Sincerely  yours, 

(Signed)    "  THOMAS  M.  MULRY." 


Back  to  the  "  Office  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 

Farm.  «  New  York,  Dec.  13,  1895. 

"My  Dear  Sir  : — Judging  from  such  reports  as  have  come  to 
my  notice,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  most  valuable  result  has 
been  on  the  educational  side,  I  feel  convinced  that  those  who  have 
taken  honest  advantage  of  the  opportunity  afforded  them  to  learn 
what  can  be  earned  from  the  soil  will  realize  how  much  better  a 
chance  is  open  to  them  to  gain  a  livelihood  by  farming.  The  re- 
moval of  a  few  such  families  from  the  tenements  of  New  York 
and  their  success  in  cultivating  the  soil  must  undoubtedly  prove 
contagious  and  ultimately  overcome  the  antipathy  of  many  to  leav- 
ing the  city  for  the  rural  districts. 

"  Yours  faithfully, 
(Signed)  "  NATHANIEL  S.  ROSENAU." 

105  East  22d  Street. 


"  1.  The  opportunity  of  enabling  elderly  men,  who  had  been 
crowded  out  of  their  positions,  to  become  self-supporting,  whereby 
their  independence  and  self  respect  were  retained. 

"  2.  The  communal  character  of  the  work,  each  member  of  the 
family  toiling  with  zest  and  directed  intelligence  because  conscious 
that  the  result  of  his  labor  would  go  to  him. 

"3.    The  awakening  and  inspiration  of  the  thought,  that  the 


Home 
Possi- 
bilities. 


45 


possibility  of  a  home  might  be  a  reality,  because  of  the  newly 
learned  knowledge  in  farming,  with  its  evidence  in  crops  actually 
harvested. 

(Signed)  "  WM.  H.  TOLMAN." 


"  32  Nassau  Street. 
"  In  the  experiment  of  the  Cultivation  of  Vacant  City  Lots  by  the     Old  Men 
Unemployed,  I  have  been  particularly    gratified  by  the  success    Cared  for. 
obtained  in  enabling  superannuated  and  partially  crippled  men  to 
support  themselves  by  their  own  labor.    To  transform  these  unfor- 
tunates, who  have  become  dependent  upon  others  through  no  fault 
of  their  own,  into  self-supporting  citizens  is  a  real  achievement  in 
philanthropy, 

(Signed)  "  R.  FULTON  CUTTING." 


The  Board  of  Aldermen  were  much  in-    XT      -  , 

New  York 

terested  in  the  Vacant  Lot  scheme  and  a  formal  resolution  was  Aldermen, 
moved  and  carried  offering  their  co-operation. 

By  Alderman  Goodman — 

Whereas,  The  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 
Poor  has  inaugurated  a  movement  to  relieve  the  unemployed  by 
giving  them  an  opportunity  to  cultivate  vacant  lots  in  and  about  the 
city  ;  and 

Whereas,  Such  movement  is  meeting  with  merited  encourage- 
ment, to  an  extent  which  indicates  that  success  is  fully  assured ;  and 

Whereas,  This  charity  is  one  of  the  most  practical  and  praise- 
worthy, and  is  deserving  of  all  the  moral  and  material  aid  which  can 
be  given  towards  extending  it  in  every  direction  ;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Lands,  Places  and  Park 
Department  be  and  they  are  hereby  instructed  to  co-operate  with 
the  Association  for  the  Improvement  of  the  Condition  of  the  Poor, 


46 


with  a  view  of  offering  such  lots  and  lands  belonging  to  the  city  as 
are  vacant  and  suitable  for  the  purpose  indicated  ;  and  to  recom- 
mend to  this  Board  the  length  of  time  and  under  what  conditions 
such  lots  shall  be  tendered  for  the  uses  set  forth. 

Alderman  Goodman  moved  the  adoption  of  the  resolution. 

Alderman  Oakley  moved  that  the  resolution  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  County  Affairs. 

The  President  put  the  question  whether  the  Board  would  agree 
with  said  motion  ;  which  was  decided  in  the  negative  by  the 
following  vote : 

Affirmative — Aldermen  Brown,  Burke,  Campbell,  Clancy,  Goetz, 
Goodwin,  Hackett,  Muh,  Murphy,  Oakley,  Tait,  and  Wund — 12. 

Negative — The  President,  the  Vice-President,  Aldermen  Dwyer, 
Goodman,  Hall,  Kennefick,  Lantry,  Marshall,  Noonan,  O'Brien, 
Olcott,  Randall,  Robinson,  School,  Ware,  Wines,  and  Woodward — 17. 

On  motion  of  Alderman  Goodman,  the  resolution  was  then 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  Lands,  Places  and  Park  Department. 


It  was  a  matter  of  extreme  regret  to  the 
Committee  that  they  were  unable  to  avail  themselves  of  this  generous 
offer,  but  it  was  deemed  unwise,  as  the  expense  of  superintendence 
and  watching  the  land  would  have  been  very  heavy. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Committee, 

New 

Members  Mr.  William  Steinway  and  Mr.  A.  S.  Frissell  were  added  to  the 
Committee.  The  same  land  was  offered,  with  an  addition  of  ninety 
acres,  for  cultivation  during  the  coming  season,  on  the  sole  condition 
that  The  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor 
should  take  charge  of  the  management,  as  in  1895.  The  same 
organization  as  that  of  last  year  is  continued. 


4; 


Because  of  the  experimental  character  of 


1896. 


the  plan  in  1895  and  the  impossibility  of  beginning  the  work  early, 
the  results  were  very  materially  lessened.  For  the  coming  season, 
the  seed  potatoes  are  already  purchased  and  the  manure  from  four  of 
the  stables  of  the  Street  Cleaning  Department,  which  Commissioner 
Waring  has  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Committee,  is  being  hauled 
and  some  of  the  new  ground  is  being  plowed.  A  team  of  horses, 
wagon  and  harnesses  have  been  bought  in  order  to  save  a  greater 
expense  in  hiring  the  teaming.  Mr.  Steinway  has  given  the  use  of  a 
barn  on  the  farms,  but  the  feed  of  the  horses  and  the  wages  of  the 
driver  are  expenses  which  must  be  met  by  cash  in  hand  at  once. 
The  Committee  is  devoting  its  best  thought  to  planning  the  details 
of  the  work  and  then  to  the  necessary  supervision.  It  therefore 
appeals  with  confidence  to  the  financial  co-operation  of  the  public, 
who  cannot  devote  their  time  and  thought  to  this  most  practical 
automatic  scheme  for  relief  by  work,  but  can  give  their  money. 
Contributions  at  once  will  be  doubly  welcome,  so  that  the  Committee 
may  be  enabled  to  carry  out  their  plans.  All  money  should  be 
sent  to  the  Treasurer,  Jacob  H.  Scruff,  27  Pine  Street. 


JACOB  H.  SCHIFF, 
BOLTON  HALL, 
WILLIAM  H.  TOLMAN. 


Committee. 


CONTRIBUTORS, 
1895. 


Agnew,  Mrs.  C.  R   10  00 

Avery,  Samuel  P   10  00 

Babcock,  Miss  M   10  00 

Betts,  Frederick  II   25  00 

Blood,  S.  S   10  00 

Bernheim,  A.  C.  (deceased)   5  00 

Bond,  Win.  E  £0  00 

Boswoith,  Dr.  F.  H   10  00 

Breese,  Mrs.  A.  E   20  00 

Bulkley,  L.  Duncan,  M.D   10  00 

Butler,  Howard  Russell   5  00 

Camrnann,  Mrs.  C   20  00 

Cary,  Mrs.  Melbert  B   2  00 

Child,  Kate  6   1  00 

Clark,  Mrs.  Alfred  Corning          20  00 

Cochran,  William  F  100  GO 

Cochran,  Mrs.  W.  F   5  00 

Coe,  Henry  E   10  00 

Cook,  Mrs.  C.  T   20  00 

Cooper,  Miss  Julia   25  00 

Co-ter,  C.  H   25  00 

Cutting,  R.  Fulton  250  00 

Dodge,  D.  Stuart   10  00 

Dodge,  Mrs.  W.  E   15  00 

Dun,  R.  G   25  00 

Eidlitz,  Otto  M   10  00 

Elias,  Brewing  Co.  Henry   10  00 

Fairchild,  Charles  S   20  00 

Glazier,  S.  W   20  00 

Goldman,  Henry   10  00 

Grabfelder,  Mrs   5  00 

Griffith,  Mrs.  G.  W   10  00 

Haggin,  J.  B   10  00 

Hornthal,  Mrs.  Sarah   5  00 

Hunt,  Edward  T  100  00 

Hunt,  R.  M   25  00 

Kountze  Bros  100  00 

Lattmann,  A   50  00 

Lehman,  Emanuel  100  00 


McDowell,  Helen  E   10  00 

McKeever,  J.  Lawrence   10  00 

Mali,  Charles   3  00 

Mansfield,  Howard   10  00 

Mason,  W,  T   10  00 

Minturn,  Mrs.  J.  W   25  00 

Murray,  J.  B   25  00 

Nathan,  F   5  00 

Xeresheimer,  E.  Aug    10  00 

Oelrichs  &  Co   25  00 

Ottendorfer,  Oswald   50  00 

Parker,  Dr.  Willard   10  00 

Parsons,  Mrs.  Edwin   10  CO 

Parsons,  W.  H.  Jr   10  0C 

Peabody,  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Jr   5  00 

Perry,  Charles  M   10  00 

Planten,  J.  R   10  00 

Potter,  Mrs.  O.  B   10  00 

Rapallo,  Mrs.  ( Charles  A   5  00 

Roberts,  Miss  Mary  M   50  00 

Schermerhorn,  F.  Aug   250  00 

Schermerhorn,  W.  C   100  00 

Schiff,  Jacob  H   100  00 

Scribner,  Mrs.  J.  Blair   25  00 

Seligman,  Edwin  R.  A   10  00 

Shearman,  Thomas  G   10  00 

Sloane,  Mrs.  T.  C   10  00 

Stetson,  Francis  Lynde   25  00 

Stokes,  Anson  Phelps...,   25  00 

Sugden,  E   10  00 

Thayer,  A.  H   10  00 

Thorne,  Miss  Phebe  Anna   50  00 

Thorne,  Samuel   20  00 

Van  Nest,  Mrs.  M   50  00 

Webb,  F.  Egerton   10  00 

White,  Horace   10  00 

Whitehouse,  Fitzhugh   10  00 

W.  M.  P   10  00 


COOPER  UNION  LABOR  BUREAU. 


15  Cooper  Union. 

Telephone:  Spring,  676. 


USINESS  MEN,  Contractors,  Manufacturers  and  Fanners  fur- 
nished; with  help.  The  Bureau  is  not  a  charity,  but  a 
business  enterprise.  Only  applicants  with  first  class 
references,  which  have  been  so  proved  by  a  conscientious  inves- 
tigation, will  be  recommended  to  employers.  The  idle,  vicious  or 
physically  incapable  will  be  severely  let  alone  by  the  Bureau, 
to  be  handled  by  other  reformatory  or  charitable  agencies. 

NO  FEE  TO  EMPLOYER  OR  EMPLOYEE. 


TT  is  not  the  idea  of  the  Bureau  to  place  a  worthless  class,  but  to 
send  the  very  best  material  for  each  position,  in  order  that 
each  man  placed  may  be  the  means  of  opening  up  the  way  for  another . 

All  communications  regarding  the  Bureau  should  be  sent  to 

J.  W.  KELGAARD,  Supt. 

15  Cooper  Union,  New  York. 

Send  tor  Circular  of  Information. 


\ 
\ 


PEOPLE'S  BATHS. 


g  Centre  Market  Place. 


HE  First  Bath  in  the  United  States  to  use  the  Spray  or  Rain  Water 
System  of  Baths. 


*  X  X  % 


FEE  OF  FIVE  CENTS  entitles  the  Bather  to  the  use  of  the 
Compartment  for  twenty  minutes,  with  towels  and  soap. 
The  public  are  cordially  invited  to  inspect  the  Baths.  Since  the  increasing 
interest  in  Municipal  Baths,  Committees  from  other  cities  have  made  a 
careful  study  of  the  Establishment.  Other  Baths  will  simply  be  extensions 
of  the  People's  £Satti§,  since  the  principle  will  be  the  same. 


R.    E.  TAYLOR, 

Supt. 


